[Influence of knee synovectomy on the disease course in PCP patients]

72 patients with rheumatoid arthritis undergoing surgical synovectomy of knee joints (102 times) were followed up for five years at yearly intervals for their clinical condition and laboratory parameters (sed. rate, leukocytes, serum iron, rheumatoid factor and others). Findings were documented by use of a questionary. At the end of the study the result of synovectomy was compared with the preoperative disease state by use of the Steinbrocker-Criteria and laboratory findings; in addition influence of synovectomy on the postoperative course was investigated. The following conclusions were drawn. 1) Preoperatively seronegative patients exhibited better local long term recovery than seropositive patients. 2) In most patients synovectomized in stage I the disease did not progress during the study period. 3) Some of the patients showed retardation of immunoserologic disease activity for 2-3 years after synovectomy.